The Christmas Connemara Pony - The Coral Cove Horses Series: Coral Cove Horse Adventures for Girls and Boys, #6

By Elaine Heney

Christmas is just around the corner in the charming seaside village of Coral Cove. Twelve year old Ciara, her Connemara pony Misty, her best friend Molly and her pony Ranger are having fun helping a neighbour's horse prepare for a competition at the beach..

 

But one night, Ciara accidentally hears a secret conversation between her parents. She is shocked to discover that her family might have to leave their home in Coral Cove. 

 

What will happen to Grandad, Aramis and Louis if they have to live somewhere else? And will Ciara have to lose her best friend Molly, Ranger and her beloved pony Misty forever?  Join Ciara and her Connemara pony Misty in their next heart-warming tale of friendship and adventure to find out. 

 

This wholesome and beautifully told horse story is perfect for horse-crazy kids age 8+ and the young at heart. This is the sixth book in the Coral Cove Horses series and the perfect gift for birthdays and Christmas.

 

This unmissable story underlines the importance of kindness, resilience and never giving up - even in times of adversity. Perfect for middle school kids who are set on horses and all those who love young adult fiction. 

 

Written by international horsewoman and award-winning documentary director, Elaine Heney, this tender and touching story explores the depth of the relationship that can be created between girl and horse - that can last a lifetime.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elaine Heney
• Release date: Apr 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215509722

Book preview

The Christmas Connemara Pony

The Connemara Adventure Series

The Forgotten Horse

The Show Horse

The Mayfield Horse

The Stolen Horse

The Adventure Horse

The Lost Horse

The Coral Cove Series

The Riding School Connemara Pony

The Storm and the Connemara Pony

The Surprise Puppy and the Connemara Pony

The Castle Charity Ride and the Connemara Pony

The Shipwreck and the Connemara Pony

The Christmas Connemara Pony

Horse Books for Kids

P is for Pony – ABC Alphabet Book for Kids 2+

Listenology for Kids age 7-14

Horse Care, Riding and Training for kids 6-11

Horse Puzzles, Games & Brain Teasers for kids 7-14

Horse Books for Adults

Equine Listenology Guide

Dressage Training for Beginners

The Listenology Guide to Bitless Bridles

Conversations with the Horse

Horse Anatomy Coloring Book

Discover all Elaine Heney’s books at www.elaineheneybooks.com

iPhone & Android Horse Apps:

www.poleworkapp.com

www.horsestridesapp.com

www.dressagehero.com

www.rideableapp.com

The Christmas Connemara Pony

Elaine Heney

Copyright © 2023 by Elaine Heney

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

First Edition April 2023

Published by Grey Pony Films

www.greyponyfilms.com

ABOUT ELAINE HENEY

Elaine Heney is an Irish horsewoman, film producer at Grey Pony Films, #1 best-selling author, and director of the award-winning 'Listening to the Horse™' documentary. She has helped over 120,000+ horse owners in 113 countries to create great relationships with their horses. Elaine's mission is to make the world a better place for the horse. She lives in Ireland with her horses Ozzie & Matilda. Discover Elaine’s books at her online book shop: www.elaineheneybooks.com

Online horse training courses

Discover our series of world-renowned online groundwork, riding, training programs and iPhone and Android apps. Visit Grey Pony Films & learn more:www.greyponyfilms.com

Table of contents

Chapter 1 8

Chapter 2 14

Chapter 3 21

Chapter 4 28

Chapter 5 35

Chapter 6 42

Chapter 7 49

Chapter 8 57

Chapter 9 64

Chapter 10 71

Chapter 11 77

Chapter 12 84

Chapter 1

Ciara woke up slowly . She blinked and sighed, snuggled in the warmth of her bed.  What time had she come back into the house last night?  It had to have been late. She was pretty sure Grandad had been locking up at the back when she slipped in through the front door.  Memories of the previous night flashed into her mind.  The Halloween lantern ride along the beach, the little party at Yew Tree Cottage, the joy of finding out Molly's parents had bought Holly Tree cottage and her friend wouldn’t be moving.  The phone call between Mum and Dad.  Ciara felt her heart tighten.  Dad was coming home.

The thought of having Dad back made Ciara feel as conflicted as she had the night before when she'd run from the house and hidden in Misty's stable.  On the one hand, Ciara was overjoyed that Dad would be back home.  He'd been working abroad for months now and was supposed to be away for several more. His coming back early was wonderful, but also a little worrying.

When Dad came home, she wasn't sure what would happen.  She'd realised that last night, she'd never thought about it before.  Dad's original job had been in the city, in some office building Ciara had only seen once.  They'd lived in a little rented house with no garden, surrounded by other houses just the same.  Would they go back when he came home?  Find another little house to live in like the one they had before?  And what if they did do that?  What did that mean for Ciara, her brother, and her sister?

Ciara lay thinking about it for a second.  In their old house, there had been no space to run around and play, outside or in, not like at Grandad's.  They'd had to drive an hour to get to the closest beach and it was always busy.  Here there was the cove and they had it all to themselves mostly.  Then there was Kit. The puppy was far too big to fit in a little house. There would be no way to persuade Dad to take him with them to somewhere like that, and it wouldn't be fair to him if they did.  Leaving him behind though would break Maddy's heart.  Then again, Ciara mused, if Kit stayed at least Grandad wouldn't be alone.

Her thoughts drifted to Grandad.  He'd miss them if they went, she knew he would. He wouldn't say anything of course, but he'd be sad and probably lonely.  Ciara suddenly hated the idea of leaving Grandad. It seemed wrong.  He definitely wouldn't come with them though. He had too many animals to see to on the farm, and besides, he was too attached to the cove. It was part of who he was.  Ciara felt frustrated. Nothing seemed to make sense.  No plan she imagined in her mind didn't leave someone feeling sad.

She turned over in her bed and glanced at the window.  The curtain wasn't quite closed properly and through it, she could just make out the misty morning.  Misty.  That was another issue, one she almost dared not think of.  The little bay Connemara mare Ciara knew would be waiting for her in the stables outside Grandad's farmhouse.  Grandad had bought her for Ciara and brought her to the farm.  What happened when she left?  Would Misty come too?

In a way, it would be easier to bring Misty than Kit.  They could find a stable to rent for her close by, but that didn't mean Ciara would see her every day as she did now.  Back when they'd lived in the city Ciara had only ridden once a week.  Maybe, if she was lucky, they'd find a stable near a bus route, but in all likelihood, Ciara would only see Misty when Mum could drive her.  That was the best-case scenario. The worst case was that, like Kit, she would stay with Grandad, and Ciara would only see her at holiday times.  That thought made Ciara feel a little sick.

A tear silently fell down Ciara's cheek.  She hated feeling like this. Hated that she wanted Dad back home, and didn't all at the same time.  After she had overheard Mum and Dad talking the night before she'd run to Misty, hidden in the stable to calm herself down and to try and sort the jumble of thoughts that were running through her mind.  The problem was she hadn't sorted them out.  She'd thought out every scenario she could, but none of them ended perfectly.  Dad couldn't do his job in the city in Coral Cove, and she couldn’t think of a job in Coral Cove Dad could do.  There was Mum’s book, she supposed.  It was finished now and had been sent to her editor, Mum had to meet her publisher sometime soon.  Maybe if it went really well it would change things.  Ciara sighed.

Slipping out of bed she pulled on her things and headed downstairs, her mind still muddled.  Maddy and Kit were already up, and as she headed to the kitchen Ciara expected to see her sister in the same conflicted mess she was, holding onto Kit while wanting Dad back at the same time.  Instead, however, Ciara found her happily munching on some co-co pops and feeding Kit dog biscuits.  Ciara glanced at Mum.  She was smiling more than usual.  Ciara suddenly felt guilty. She hadn't thought about how Mum and Dad might feel about the whole thing.  They'd both be glad to be back together, she knew that.

Hey, Branden said, brushing past her and sitting down at the table.

You’re up early, Mum said with a smile.

Lucas and I are going to do some painting over at the cottage, Branden said, grabbing some toast and taking a large bite.

Branden and his friend Lucas had agreed to help Grandad do up Yew Tree cottage.  It sat next to Molly's house, small and a little overgrown, its rooms dated.  Grandad and his friend had bought it between them, but Davie had been forced to move in with his daughter now, so Grandad was doing it up alone, probably to rent out Ciara suspected.  She wondered, absently, if they could rent it.  Would that be an answer?

Well, don't forget to wear old clothes then, Mum said, interrupting Ciara's thoughts.  I don't want paint and poly-filler all over your new jeans.  Brandan nodded and mumbled 'sure' around a mouthful of toast.

Ciara frowned.  Mum wasn't saying anything about Dad and the phone call.  She'd expected to come down and find everyone talking about it.  Then it hit her.  Mum was keeping